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OUR DAILY BREAD December 31, ,2017 Sunday FAITH-BUILDING MEMORIES Great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:23 Lamentations 3:19–26 Bible in a year: Malachi 1–4; Revelation 22 As I stepped into the music-filled sanctuary, I looked around at the crowd that had gathered for a New Year’s Eve party. Joy lifted my heart with hope, as I recalled the prayers of the previous year. Our congregation had collectively grieved over wayward children, deaths of loved ones, job losses, and broken relationships. But we’d also experienced God’s grace as we recalled changed hearts and healed personal connections. We’d celebrated victories, weddings, graduations, and baptisms into God’s family. We’d welcomed children born, adopted, or dedicated to the Lord, and more—so much more. Reflecting over the history of trials our church family faced, much like Jeremiah remembered his “affliction” and his “wandering” (Lam. 3:19), I believed that “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for h

OUR DAILY BREAD December 30 Saturday TIMES OF COMPLETION They sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.  Acts 14:26 Acts 14:21–28 Bible in a year: Zechariah 13–14; Revelation 21 At the end of the year, the burden of uncompleted tasks can weigh us down. Responsibilities at home and work may seem never-ending, and those unfinished today roll into tomorrow. But there are times in our journey of faith when we should pause and celebrate God’s faithfulness and the tasks completed. After the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, “they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed” (Acts 14:26). While much work remained in sharing the message of Jesus with others, they took time to give thanks for what had been done. “They gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gen

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 29, 2017 Friday  WHAT REMAINS IN THE EYE  How many are your works, Lord!  Psalm 104:24 Psalm 104:24–35 Bible in a year: Zechariah 9–12; Revelation 20 The hummingbird gets its English name from the hum made by its rapidly beating wings. In other languages, it is known as the “flower-kisser” (Portuguese) or “flying jewels” (Spanish). One of my favorite names for this bird is  biulu ,  “what remains in the eye” (Mexican Zapotec). In other words, once you see a hummingbird, you’ll never forget it. G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.” The hummingbird is one of those wonders. What is so fascinating about these tiny creatures? Maybe it is their small size (averaging two to three inches) or the speed of their wings that can flap from 50 to 200 times per second. We aren’t sure who wrote Psalm 104, but the psalmist was certainly captivated by nature’s beauty. After describing many of creation’s

OUR DAILY BREAD December 28,2017 Thursday EVERYDAY MOMENTS A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.  Proverbs 15:13 Proverbs 15:13–15 Bible in a year : Zechariah 5–8; Revelation 19 I piled groceries in my car and carefully exited my parking spot. Suddenly a man darted across the pavement just in front of me, not noticing my approach. I slammed on my brakes, just missing him. Startled, he looked up and met my gaze. In that moment, I knew I had a choice: respond with rolled-eye frustration or offer a smiling forgiveness. I smiled. Relief flickered across his face, raising the edges of his own lips in gratefulness. Proverbs 15:13 says, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Is the writer directing us to cheery grins in the face of every interruption, disappointment, and inconvenience life brings? Surely not! There are times for genuine mourning, despair, and even anger at injustice. But in our everyday moments, a

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 27,2017 wednesday  THANKS JOURNAL Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  Psalm 117:1 Psalm 117 Bible in a year:  Zechariah 1–4; Revelation 18 When I was a new believer in Jesus, a spiritual mentor encouraged me to keep a thanks journal. It was a little booklet I carried with me everywhere I went. Sometimes I would record a thanksgiving right away. Other times, I would pen it at the end of the week during a time of reflection. Taking note of praise items is a good habit—one I’m considering re-establishing in my life. It would help me to be mindful of God’s presence and grateful for His provision and care. In the shortest of all the psalms, Psalm 117, the writer encourages everyone to praise the Lord because “great is his love toward us” (v. 2). Think about it: How has the Lord shown His love toward you today, this week, this month, and this year? Don’t just look for the spectacular. His love is seen in the ordinary, everyday ci

OUR DAILY BREAD December 26, 2017 Tuesday WHAT ON EARTH? My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19 Matthew 17:24–27 Bible in a year: Haggai 1–2; Revelation 17 When Andrew Cheatle lost his cell phone at the beach, he thought it was gone forever. About a week later, however, fisherman Glen Kerley called him. He had pulled Cheatle’s phone, still functional after it dried, out of a 25-pound cod. Life is full of odd stories, and we find more than a few of them in the Bible. One day tax collectors came to Peter demanding to know, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” (Matt. 17:24). Jesus turned the situation into a teaching moment. He wanted Peter to understand His role as king. Taxes weren’t collected from the children of the king, and the Lord made it clear that neither He nor His children owed any temple tax (vv. 25–26). Yet Jesus wanted to be careful not to “cause offense” (v. 27), so He told Peter to go fishing.

OUR DAILY BREAD December 25, 2017 Monday TRADITIONS AND CHRISTMAS I bring you good news that will cause great joy . . . a Savior has been born to you.  Luke 2:10–11 Luke 2:1–10 Bible in a year: Zephaniah 1–3; Revelation 16 As you savor a candy cane this Christmas, say “danke schön” to the Germans, for that confectionary treat was first created in Cologne. As you admire your poinsettia, say “gracias” to Mexico, where the plant originated. Say “merci beaucoup” to the French for the term  noel , and give a “cheers” to the English for your mistletoe. But as we enjoy our traditions and festivities of the Christmas season—customs that have been collected from around the world—let’s save our most sincere and heartfelt “thank you” for our good, merciful, and loving God. From Him came the reason for our Christmas celebration: the baby born in that Judean manger more than 2,000 years ago. An angel announced the arrival of this gift to mankind by saying, “I bring you good news that will c

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 24, 2017 Sunday  A THRILL OF HOPE Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Luke 2:11 Luke 2:11–20 Bible in a year:  Habakkuk 1–3; Revelation 15 Reginald Fessenden had been working for years to achieve wireless radio communication. Other scientists found his ideas radical and unorthodox, and doubted he would succeed. But he claims that on December 24, 1906, he became the first person to ever play music over the radio. Fessenden held a contract with a fruit company which had installed wireless systems on roughly a dozen boats to communicate about the harvesting and marketing of bananas. That Christmas Eve, Fessenden said that he told the wireless operators on board all ships to pay attention. At 9 o’clock they heard his voice. He reportedly played a record of an operatic aria, and then he pulled out his violin, playing “O Holy Night” and singing the words to the last verse as he played. Finally, he offered

OUR DAILY BREAD December 23, 2017 Saturday GOD WITH US The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.  Matthew 1:23 Matthew 1:18–23 Bible in a year: Nahum 1–3; Revelation 14 “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left . . .” These hymn lyrics, written by the fifth-century Celtic Christian St. Patrick, echo in my mind when I read Matthew’s account of Jesus’s birth. They feel like a warm embrace, reminding me that I’m never alone. Matthew’s account tells us that God dwelling with His people is at the heart of Christmas. Quoting Isaiah’s prophecy of a child who would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isa. 7:14), Matthew points to the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy—Jesus, the One born by the power of the Holy Spirit to be God with us. This truth is so central that Matthew begins and ends his gospel with it, concluding with Jesus’s

OUR DAILY BREAD December 22, 2017 Friday SILENT NIGHT OF THE SOUL If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone; the new is here!  2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 Bible in a year: Micah 6–7; Revelation 13 Long before Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created the familiar carol “Silent Night,” Angelus Silesius had written: Lo! in the silent night a child to God is born, And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn. Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night God would be born in thee and set all things aright. Silesius, a Polish monk, published the poem in 1657 in  The Cherubic Pilgrim. During our church’s annual Christmas Eve service, the choir sang a beautiful rendition of the song titled “Could but Thy Soul Become a Silent Night.” The twofold mystery of Christmas is that God became one of us so that we might become one with Him. Jesus suffered everything that was wrong so that we could be made right. That’s why the apostle Paul could

OUR DAILY BREAD December 21, 2017 Thursday HOME FOR CHRISTMAS I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  Genesis 28:15 Genesis 28:10–17 Bible in a year: Micah 4–5; Revelation 12 One year Christmas found me on assignment in a place many of my friends couldn’t locate on a map. Trudging from my worksite back to my room, I braced against the chill wind blowing off the bleak Black Sea. I missed home. When I arrived at my room, I opened the door to a magical moment. My artistic roommate had completed his latest project—a nineteen-inch ceramic Christmas tree that now illuminated our darkened room with sparkling dots of color. If only for a moment, I was home again! As Jacob fled from his brother Esau, he found himself in a strange and lonely place too. Asleep on the hard ground, he met God in a dream. And God promised Jacob a home. “I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying,” He told him. “All peoples on

OUR DAILY BREAD December 20, 2017 Wednesday BREAKING THE SILENCE He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  Luke 1:17 Luke 1:11–17 Bible in a year: Micah 1–3; Revelation 11 At the end of the Old Testament, God seems to be in hiding. For four centuries, the Jews wait and wonder. God seems passive, unconcerned, and deaf to their prayers. Only one hope remains: the ancient promise of a Messiah. On that promise the Jews stake everything. And then something momentous happens. The birth of a baby is announced. You can catch the excitement just by reading the reactions of people in Luke. Events surrounding Jesus’s birth resemble a joy-filled musical. Characters crowd into the scene: a white-haired great uncle (Luke 1:5–25), an astonished virgin (1:26–38), the old prophetess Anna (2:36). Mary herself lets loose with a beautiful hymn (1:46–55). Even Jesus’s unborn cousin kicks for joy inside his mother’s womb (1:

OUR DAILY BREAD December 19,2017 Tuesday EXTREME MEASURES The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.  Luke 19:10 Luke 19:1–10 Bible in a year: Jonah 1–4; Revelation 10 A few years ago, a friend of mine lost track of her young son while walking through a swarm of people at Union Station in Chicago. Needless to say, it was a terrifying experience. Frantically, she yelled his name and ran back up the escalator, retracing her steps in an effort to find her little boy. The minutes of separation seemed like hours, until suddenly—thankfully—her son emerged from the crowd and ran to the safety of her arms. Thinking of my friend who would have done anything to find her child fills me with a renewed sense of gratitude for the amazing work God did to save us. From the time God’s first image-bearers—Adam and Eve—wandered off in sin, He lamented the loss of fellowship with His people. He went to great lengths to restore the relationship by sending His one and only Son “to seek and to

IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA IMELA I WILL SING OF THE LORDS GREAT LOVE FOREVER MORE WITH MY MOUTH I WILL SHOUT FOR JOY FOREVERMORE All of the heavens sing (REPEAT) About the things you do (REPEAT) I WILL SING OF THE LORDS GREAT LOVE FOREVER MORE Tell of your faithfulness (REPEAT) They proclaim that there's no one like you (ALL) All of the nations sing (REAPEAT) Sing of your mighty power (REPEAT) In you we put our our trust (REPEAT) We Proclaim you're our strength and Our shield (REPEAT) (counter) IME IMELA IMELA IMELA IME IMELA IMELA IMELA IME IMELA IMELA IMELA

OUR DAILY BREAD December 17, 2017 Sunday GENTLENESS Be completely humble and gentle.  Ephesians 4:2 Ephesians 4:1–6 Bible in a year : Amos 7–9; Revelation 8 The troubles of life can make us cranky and out of sorts, but we should never excuse these bouts of bad behavior, for they can wither the hearts of those we love and spread misery all around us. We have not fulfilled our duty to others until we have learned to be pleasant. The New Testament has a word for the virtue that corrects our unpleasantness— gentleness , a term that suggests a kind and gracious soul. Ephesians 4:2 reminds us, “Be completely humble and gentle.” Gentleness  is a willingness to accept limitations and ailments without taking out our aggravation on others. It shows gratitude for the smallest service rendered and tolerance for those who do not serve us well. It puts up with bothersome people—especially noisy, boisterous little people; for kindness to children is a crowning mark of a good and gentle pers

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 16, 2017 Saturday  BIG WORLD, BIGGER GOD For by [Jesus] all things were created.  Colossians 1:16  nasb Colossians 1:12–17 Bible in a year:  Amos 4–6; Revelation 7 As we drove through northern Michigan, Marlene exclaimed, “It’s unbelievable how big the world is!” She made her comment as we passed a sign marking the 45th parallel—the point halfway between the equator and the North Pole. We talked about how small we are and how vast our world is. Yet, compared to the size of the universe, our tiny planet is only a speck of dust. If our world is great, and the universe is vastly greater, how big is the One who powerfully created it? The Bible tells us, “For by [Jesus] all things were created,  both  in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16 nasb). This is good news because this same Jesus who created the universe is the One who

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 15, 2017 Friday  MORE THAN A HERO We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 John 1:1–5, 9–14 Bible in a year :  Amos 1–3; Revelation 6 As  Star Wars  fans around the world eagerly await the release of Episode 8, “The Last Jedi,” people continue to analyze the remarkable success of these films dating back to 1977. Frank Pallotta, media reporter for CNNMoney, said that  Star Wars connects with many who long for “a new hope and a force of good at a time when the world needs heroes.” At the time of Jesus’s birth, the people of Israel were oppressed and longing for their long-promised Messiah. Many anticipated a hero to deliver them from Roman tyranny, but Jesus did not come as a political or military hero. Instead, He came as a baby to the town of Bethlehem. As a result, many missed who He was. The apostle John wrote, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not recei

OUR DAILY BREAD December 14, 2017 Thursday WITH GOD’S HELP So here I am today, eighty-five years old! . . . I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.  Joshua 14:10–11 Joshua 14:7–15 Bible in a year:  Joel 1–3; Revelation 5 As I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed more joint pain, especially when cold weather hits. Some days, I feel less like a conqueror and more like someone conquered by the challenges of becoming a senior citizen. That’s why my hero is an older man named Caleb—the former spy sent by Moses to scout out Canaan, the Promised Land (Num. 13–14). After the other spies gave an unfavorable report, Caleb and Joshua were the only spies out of the twelve whom God favored to enter Canaan. Now, in Joshua 14, the time for Caleb to receive his portion of land had come. But there were enemies still to drive out. Not content to retire and leave the battle to the younger generation, Caleb declared, “You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their citie

OUR DAILY BREAD December 13, 2017 Wednesday IT ISN’T ME I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  Galatians 2:20 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 Bible in a year: Hosea 12–14; Revelation 4 As one of the most celebrated orchestral conductors of the twentieth century, Arturo Toscanini is remembered for his desire to give credit to whom credit is due. In David Ewen’s  Dictators of the Baton,  the author describes how members of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra rose to their feet and cheered Toscanini at the end of a rehearsal of Beethoven’s  Ninth Symphony.  When there was a lull in the ovation, and with tears in his eyes, Arturo’s broken voice could be heard exclaiming as he spoke: “It isn’t me . . . it’s Beethoven! . . . Toscanini is nothing.” In the apostle Paul’s New Testament letters, he also refused to take credit for his spiritual insight and influence. He knew he was like a spiritual father and mother to many who had put their faith in Christ. He admitted he had worked hard and s

OUR DAILY BREAD December 12,2017 Tuesday THE CURE FOR ANXIETY Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 Philippians 4:1–9 Bible in a year : Hosea 9–11; Revelation 3 We were excited about moving for my husband’s job. But the unknowns and challenges left me feeling anxious. Thoughts of sorting and packing up belongings. Looking for a place to live. My finding a new job too. Making my way around a new city, and getting settled. It was all . . . unsettling. As I thought about my “to-do” list, words written by the apostle Paul echoed in my mind:  Don’t worry, but pray  (Phil. 4:6–7). If anyone could have been anxious about unknowns and challenges, it would have been Paul. He was shipwrecked. He was beaten. He was jailed. In his letter to the Philippian church, he encouraged his friends who also were facing unknowns, telling them, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every s

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 11, 2017 Monday  IT’S ALL A GIFT! For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8 Ephesians 2:1–9 Bible in a year:  Hosea 5–8; Revelation 2 London’s Café Rendezvous has nice lighting, comfortable couches, and the smell of coffee in the air. What it doesn’t have are prices. Originally started as a business by a local church, the café was transformed a year after it started. The managers felt that God was calling them to do something radical—make everything on the menu free. Today you can order a coffee, cake, or sandwich without cost. There isn’t even a donation jar. It’s all a gift. I asked the manager why they were so generous. “We’re just trying to treat people the way God treats us,” he said. “God gives to us whether we thank him or not. He’s generous to us beyond our imaginations.” Jesus died to rescue us from our sins and reconcile us with God. He rose from the grave an

At Foursquare Gospel Church, we pay our TITHES AND OFFERINGS. We do not question it because God commanded it, we know it is biblical and God blesses us through it. God keeps His own end of the bargain in tithing, why should we fail on our part? If we obey other scriptures, why should we query tithing? No, we do not and we will not! Again, we did not just become members of Foursquare Gospel Church; we were schooled in the twenty-two (22) tenets of faith of our church; tithes and offering being one of them. We were not coerced to obey and abide by these tenets of faith, we searched the scriptures ourselves, we found them there and were convinced they are biblical and the truth. If we obey all the tenets but one, we will be hypocrites(Matthew 23:23) We don’t question whether tithing is convenient or not. It is a seed we sow not a debt we owe. For us, the baseline is 10% no matter the sum: small or large. After all, it was not convenient for God when He gave us Jesus, but He did anyway.

OUR DAILY BREAD December 8, 2017 Friday UNEXPECTED GRACE In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.  Acts 9:12 Acts 9:1–19 Bible in a year: Daniel 8–10; 3 John It was an early Saturday morning in my sophomore year of high school, and I was eager to get to my job at the local bowling lanes. The evening before, I had stayed late to mop the muddy tile floors because the janitor called in sick. I hadn’t bothered to tell the boss about the janitor so I could surprise him. After all,  What could go wrong?  I thought. Plenty, as it turns out. Stepping in the door, I saw inches of standing water, with bowling pins, rolls of toilet paper, and boxes of paper scoresheets bobbing on top. Then I realized what I had done:  While doing the floors, I had left a large faucet running overnight!  Incredibly, my boss greeted me with a huge hug and a big smile—“for trying,” he said. Saul was actively punishing and harassing Christians (Acts

OUR DAILY BREAD December 7, 2017 Thursday FIRST THINGS FIRST Watch your life and doctrine closely.  1 Timothy 4:16 1 Timothy 4:12–16 Bible in a year: Daniel 5–7; 2 John When you travel by air, before the flight takes off an airline employee presents a safety briefing, which explains what to do if there is a loss of cabin pressure. Passengers are told that oxygen masks will drop from the compartment above and they are to put one on themselves before helping others. Why? Because before you can help anyone else, you need to be physically alert yourself. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he stressed the importance of maintaining his own spiritual health before helping and serving others. He reminded Timothy of his many responsibilities as a pastor: There were false teachings to contend with (1 Tim. 4:1–5) and wrong doctrines to correct (vv. 6–8). But to discharge his duties well, what was most important was to “watch [his] life and doctrine closely [and] persevere in them” (v. 16). He ne

OUR DAILY BREAD December 6, 2017 Wednesday TRUSTING GOD EVEN IF The God we serve is able to deliver us.  Daniel 3:17 Bible in a year: Daniel 3:13–25 Daniel 3–4; 1 John 5 Due to an injury that occurred in 1992, I suffer from chronic pain in my upper back, shoulders, and neck. During the most excruciating and disheartening moments, it’s not always easy to trust or praise the Lord. But when my situation feels unbearable, God’s constant presence comforts me. He strengthens me and reassures me of His unchanging goodness, limitless power, and sustaining grace. And when I’m tempted to doubt my Lord, I’m encouraged by the determined faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They worshiped God and trusted He was with them, even when their situation seemed hopeless. When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace if they didn’t turn away from the true God to worship his golden statue (Dan. 3:13–15), these three men displayed courageous and confident faith. They n

OUR DAILY BREAD  December 5, 2017 Tuesday JESUS LOVES MAYSEL This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.  1 John 4:10 1 John 4:7–16 Bible in a year:  Daniel 1–2; 1 John 4 When my sister Maysel was little, she would sing a familiar song in her own way: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells Maysel.” This irritated me to no end! As one of her older, “wiser” sisters, I knew the words were “me so,” not “Maysel.” Yet she persisted in singing it  her  way. Now I think my sister had it right all along. The Bible does indeed tell Maysel, and all of us, that Jesus loves us. Over and over again we read that truth. Take, for example, the writings of the apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:7, 20). He tells us about God’s love in one of the best-known verses of the Bible: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John reinforces that message of

OUR DAILY BREAD   December 3, 2017 Sunday  WAITING Bethlehem . . . out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.  Micah 5:2 Micah 5:2–4 Bible in a year:  Ezekiel 45–46; 1 John 2 “How much longer until it’s Christmas?” When my children were little, they asked this question repeatedly. Although we used a daily Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas, they still found the waiting excruciating. We can easily recognize a child’s struggle with waiting, but we might underestimate the challenge it can involve for all of God’s people. Consider, for instance, those who received the message of the prophet Micah, who promised that out of Bethlehem would come a “ruler over Israel” (5:2) who would “stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord” (v. 4). The initial fulfillment of this prophecy came when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1) —after the people had waited some 700 years. But some of the prophecy’s fulfillment is yet to come. For we wait

OUR DAILY BREAD December 1, 2017 Friday THE LAST WILL BE FIRST Those who humble themselves will be exalted.  Matthew 23:12 Mark 9:33–37 Bible in a year: Ezekiel 40–41; 2 Peter 3 Recently I was among the last in line to board a large passenger jet with unassigned seating. I located a middle seat beside the wing, but the only spot for my bag was the overhead compartment by the very last row. This meant I had to wait for everyone to leave before I could go back and retrieve it. I laughed as I settled into my seat and a thought occurred to me that seemed to be from the Lord: “It really won’t hurt you to wait. It will actually do you good.” So I resolved to enjoy the extra time, helping other passengers lower their luggage after we landed and assisting a flight attendant with cleaning. By the time I was able to retrieve my bag, I laughed again when someone thought I worked for the airline. That day’s experience made me ponder Jesus’s words to His disciples: “Anyone who wants to be

OUR DAILY BREAD November 30, 2017 Thursday IMPERFECT, YET LOVED God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8 Luke 7:36–50 Bible in a year: Ezekiel 37–39; 2 Peter 2 In Japan, food products are immaculately prepared and packaged. Not only must they taste good but they must look good too. Often I wonder if I am purchasing the food or the packaging! Because of the Japanese emphasis on good quality, products with slight defects are often discarded. However, in recent years  wakeari  products have gained popularity.  Wakeari  means “there is a reason” in Japanese. These products are not thrown away but are sold at a cheap price “for a reason”—for example, a crack in a rice cracker. My friend who lives in Japan tells me that  wakeari  is also a catchphrase for people who are obviously less than perfect. Jesus loves all people—including the  wakeari  who society casts aside. When a woman who had lived a sinful life learned

OUR DAILY BREAD November 29,2017 Wednesday THE POWER OF EMPATHY Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.  Hebrews 13:3 Hebrews 2:14–18; 13:1–3 Bible in a year: Ezekiel 35–36; 2 Peter 1 Put on the R70i Age Suit and you immediately feel forty years older as you experience impaired vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. The Age Suit was designed to help caregivers better understand their patients.  Wall Street Journal correspondent Geoffrey Fowler wore one and wrote, “The unforgettable, and at times distressing, experience shed light not just on aging, but also how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions of the world around us.” Empathy is the power to understand and share the feelings of another. During a time of severe persecution against the followers of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews urged fellow believers to “continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistrea

OUR DAILY BREAD November 29,2017 Wednesday THE POWER OF EMPATHY Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.  Hebrews 13:3 Hebrews 2:14–18; 13:1–3 Bible in a year: Ezekiel 35–36; 2 Peter 1 Put on the R70i Age Suit and you immediately feel forty years older as you experience impaired vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. The Age Suit was designed to help caregivers better understand their patients.  Wall Street Journal correspondent Geoffrey Fowler wore one and wrote, “The unforgettable, and at times distressing, experience shed light not just on aging, but also how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions of the world around us.” Empathy is the power to understand and share the feelings of another. During a time of severe persecution against the followers of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews urged fellow believers to “continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistrea

OUR DAILY BREAD  November 28, 2017 Tuesday  OUR POWERFUL GOD [He] who creates the wind, . . . the Lord God Almighty is his name.  Amos 4:13 Amos 4:12–13 Bible in a year :  Ezekiel 33–34; 1 Peter 5 One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. “No,” he said, “It’s actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind.” Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind’s ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our God the Creator. As we see in the Old Testament book of Amos, He who “forms the mountains” and “creates the wind” can turn “dawn to darkness” (v. 13). Through this prophet, the Lord reminded His people of His power as He called them back to Himself. Because they had not obeyed Him, He said He would reveal Himse

OUR DAILY BREAD November 27, 2017 Monday KNOWING BETTER When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.  2 Kings 22:11 2 Kings 22:1–4, 8–13 Bible in a year : Ezekiel 30–32; 1 Peter 4 When we brought our adoptive son home from overseas, I was eager to shower him with love and provide what he had lacked over the preceding months, especially quality food, since he had a nutritional deficit. But despite our best efforts, including consulting specialists, he grew very little. After nearly three years, we learned he had some severe food intolerances. After removing those items from his diet, he grew five inches in just a few months. While I grieved at how long I’d unwittingly fed him foods that impaired his growth, I rejoiced at this surge in his health! I suspect Josiah felt similarly when the Book of the Law was discovered after having been lost in the temple for years. Just as I grieved having unintentionally hindered my son’s growth, Josiah grieved having

OUR DAILY BREAD  November 26, 2017 Sunday  GOD KNOWS Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  Matthew 6:4 Matthew 6:1–4 Bible in a year :  Ezekiel 27–29; 1 Peter 3 When Denise met a hurting young woman in her church, her heart went out to her and she decided to see if she could help. Every week she spent time counseling her and praying with her. Denise became her mentor. However, some church leaders didn’t notice Denise’s efforts and decided to assign a church staff member to mentor the woman. No one, they commented, seemed to be taking care of her. While she was not expecting any credit, Denise couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. “It’s as if I wasn’t doing anything at all,” she told me. One day, however, the young woman told Denise how grateful she was for her comfort. Denise felt encouraged. It was as if God was telling her, “I know you’re there for her.” Denise still meets with the woman regularly. Sometimes, we feel unappreciated when our e

OUR DAILY BREAD November 25, 2017 Saturday BEING HUMAN BEINGS All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  1 Peter 3:8 1 Peter 2:11–17; 3:8–9 Bible in a year : Ezekiel 24–26; 1 Peter 2 When asked to define his role in a community that was sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff didn’t flash his badge or respond with the rank of his office. Rather he offered, “We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis.” His humility—his stated equality with his fellow human beings—reminds me of Peter’s words when writing to first-century Christians suffering under Roman persecution. Peter directs: “All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). Perhaps Peter was saying that the best response to humans in crisis is to be human, to be aware that we are all the same. After all, isn’t that what God Himself did when He sent His Son—became human in order to help us?

OUR DAILY BREAD November 24, 2017 Friday THE HEART’S TRUE HOME [God] has . . . set eternity in the human heart.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 Ecclesiastes 3:10–11 Bible in a year : Ezekiel 22–23; 1 Peter 1 We had a West Highland Terrier for a number of years. “Westies” are tough little dogs, bred to tunnel into badger holes and engage the “enemy” in its lair. Our Westie was many generations removed from her origins, but she still retained that instinct, put into her through years of breeding. On one occasion she became obsessed by some “critter” under a rock in our backyard. Nothing could dissuade her. She dug and dug until she tunneled several feet under the rock. Now consider this question: Why do we as humans pursue, pursue, pursue? Why must we climb unclimbed mountains, ski near-vertical slopes? Run the most difficult and dangerous rapids, challenge the forces of nature? Part of it is a desire for adventure and enjoyment, but it’s much more. It’s an instinct for God that has been impl

OUR DAILY BREAD  November 23, 2017 Thursday  HARVEST AND THANKSGIVING Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.  Exodus 23:16 Genesis 8:15–9:3 Bible in a year: Ezekiel 20–21; James 5 Several thousand years ago, God spoke directly to Moses and instituted a new festival for His people. In Exodus 23:16, according to Moses’s record, God said, “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” Today countries around the world do something similar by celebrating the land’s bounty. In Ghana, the people celebrate the Yam Festival as a harvest event. In Brazil,  Dia de Acao de Gracas is a time to be grateful for the crops that yielded their food. In China, there is the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival. In the United States and Canada: Thanksgiving. To understand the fitting goal of a harvest celebration, we visit Noah right after the flood. God reminded Noah and his family—and us—of His provision for o

Storyline:A mother said to her daughter to take Jesus with her but the daughter replied that there's no space in the car and also said Jesus should stay in the booth,few hours later the car got fatal accident only the eggs in the booth survived. -Rev Meduoye # FGCN  @FoursquareNGR  Foursquare Fagba  @Fgc_igbosere

OUR DAILY BREAD November 12, 2017 Sunday WHAT’S THE BEST GIFT? The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.  2 Chronicles 2:5 2 Chronicles 2:1–10 Bible in a year : Jeremiah 51–52; Hebrews 9 My husband recently celebrated a milestone birthday, the kind that ends in a zero. I thought hard about the best way to honor him on this important occasion. I discussed my many ideas with our children to help me home in on the best one. I wanted our celebration to reflect the significance of a new decade and how precious he is to our family. I wanted our gift to be in keeping with the importance of this milestone in his life. King Solomon wanted to give to God a much greater gift than a “big birthday” would merit. He wished for the temple he built to be worthy of God’s presence in it. To secure raw materials, he messaged the king of Tyre. In his letter, he remarked that the temple would be great “because our God is greater than all other gods

OUR DAILY BREAD  November 11, 2017 Saturday  THE GOOD EARTH God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. . . . And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:9–10 Genesis 1:1–10 Bible in a year :  Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8 While orbiting the moon in 1968,  Apollo 8  astronaut Bill Anders described the crew’s close-up view of the moonscape. He called it “a foreboding horizon . . . a stark and unappetizing-looking place.” Then the crew took turns reading to a watching world from Genesis 1:1–10. After Commander Frank Borman finished verse 10, “And God saw that it was good,” he signed off with, “God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.” The opening chapter of the Bible insists on two facts: Creation is God’s work.  The phrase “and God said . . .” beats in cadence all the way through the chapter. The entire magnificent world we live in is the product of His creative work. All that follows in the Bible reinforces the me

OUR DAILY BREAD November 10, 2017 Friday THE HAND OF COMFORT Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . who comforts us in all our troubles.  2 Corinthians 1:3–4 2 Corinthians 1:3–7 Bible in a year : Jeremiah 48–49; Hebrews 7 “Patient is combative,” the nurse’s notes read. What she didn’t realize until later was that I was having an allergic reaction as I awakened after a complicated open-heart surgery. I was a mess, with a tube down my throat. My body began shaking violently, straining against the straps on my arms, which were there to keep me from suddenly pulling out my breathing tube. It was a frightening and painful episode. At one point, a nurse’s assistant to the right side of my bed reached down and simply held my hand. It was an unexpected move, and it struck me as especially gentle. I began to relax, which caused my body to stop shaking so badly. Having experienced this with other patients, the nurse’s assistant knew that a hand of comfort could

OUR DAILY BREAD November 9, 2017 Thursday A GOOD ENDING The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face.  Revelation 22:3–4 Revelation 22:1–5 Bible in a year : Jeremiah 46–47; Hebrews 6 As the lights dimmed and we prepared to watch  Apollo 13,  my friend said under his breath, “Shame they all died.” I watched the movie about the 1970 spaceflight with apprehension, waiting for tragedy to strike, and only near the closing credits did I realize I’d been duped. I hadn’t known or remembered the end of the true story—that although the astronauts faced many hardships, they made it home alive. In Christ, we can know the end of the story—that we too will make it home alive. By that I mean we will live forever with our heavenly Father, as we see in the book of Revelation. The Lord will create a “new heaven and a new earth” as He makes all things new (21:1, 5). In the new city, the Lord God will welcome His people to live with

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OUR DAILY BREAD October 14, 2017 Saturday HELD BY GOD Monica Brands I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.  Psalm 131:2 Psalm 131 Bible in a year : Isaiah 43–44; 1 Thessalonians 2 As I was nearing the end of lunch with my sister and her children one afternoon, my sister told my three-year-old niece, Annica, it was time to get ready for her nap. Her face filled with alarm. “But Aunt Monica did not hold me yet today!” she objected, tears filling her eyes. My sister smiled. “Okay, she may hold you first—how long do you need?” “Five minutes,” she replied. As I held my niece, I was grateful for how, without even trying, she constantly reminds me what it looks like to love and be loved. I think sometimes we forget that our faith journey is one of learning to experience love—God’s love—more fully than we can imagine (Eph. 3:18). When we lose that focus, we can find ourselves, like the older brother in Jesus’s para

OUR DAILY BREAD October 13, 2017 Friday A NEW NAME Jesus looked at him, and said, . . . “You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).  John 1:42 John 1:35–42 Bible in a year : Isaiah 41–42; 1 Thessalonians 1 In the article “Leading by Naming,” Mark Labberton wrote about the power of a name. He said: “I can still feel the impact of a musical friend who one day called me ‘musical.’ No one had ever called me that. I didn’t really play an instrument. I was no soloist. Yet . . . I instantly felt known and loved. . . . [He] noticed, validated, and appreciated something deeply true about me.” Perhaps this is what Simon felt when Jesus renamed him. After Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, he immediately found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus (John 1:41–42). Jesus peered into his soul and validated and appreciated something deeply true about Simon. Yes, Jesus saw the failure and impetuous nature that would get him into trouble. But more than tha